"Do The Write Thing Challenge" asks 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives and to communicate in writing what they think should be done to change the culture of violence. Students from Memphis City and Shelby County middle schools submitted over 1,000 essays for consideration in this year's National "Do The Write Thing Challenge". Two (2) student essays were selected from each of the participating schools by a selection committee comprised of community leaders, business leaders and public servants.

This year twenty-six (26) middle school students' essays were selected to be honored at the awards banquet. The honored students, their parents and their teachers were all invited to the banquet where Ariel & Kevin were announced as this year's winners.

As DTWT National Ambassadors, Ariel Smith and Kevin Miller along with their parents and teachers, receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. this summer. While there they will visit the United States Library of Congress, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Capitol and the Kuwait Embassy. The visit culminates with all of the national finalists being honored at the "Do the Write Thing Challenge National Recognition Ceremony" in July 2013.

The Do the Write Thing Challenge (the "Challenge") is an initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence (NCSV) and was created to give middle school students the opportunity Personal responsibility is emphasized. By encouraging students to make personal commitments to do something about the problem, the program ultimately seeks to help them break the cycles of violence in their homes, schools and neighborhoods.

The Shelby County District Attorney General's Office has hosted the annual awards banquet honoring the student participants, their parents and their teachers since 2006. This year's corporate partners include: